Expert commentary from Pall-ex Polska on the European Commission’s report regarding the quality of transport in member states.
At the end of April, the European Commission published a report on the state of road infrastructure. The conclusions are devastating for us. The poor condition of roads, high operating costs, and a limited network of bypasses around major cities: these issues have a huge impact not only on the comfort and safety of travelers but also on high operating costs for companies in the TSL sector.
The results of the ranking published by the Commission can safely be called unpleasant, even shocking.
– As a country, we have achieved very poor results compared to the entire European Union in such key areas as the development of transport infrastructure, transport safety, and the environmental impact of transport – comments Wojciech Kobosz, Logistics Project Coordinator at Pall-Ex Polska.
The European Commission, in evaluating our infrastructure, has confirmed what millions of drivers have been saying for years – our infrastructure requires serious changes. The current situation not only irritates drivers but also hinders the growth of our GDP.
– The lack of sufficient infrastructure at an appropriate level is not only a brake blocking the development of the industry but also, to some extent, a part of the economy. It is a significant obstacle, especially for the TSL sector – looking at it in terms of its development – or the efficiency of the models used within it, particularly when it comes to the branch that is distribution – emphasizes Wojciech Kobosz.
The expert understands the explanation for Poland’s low position in the ranking based on past data, but emphasizes that Polish infrastructure still requires changes.
– The fact that the data presented by the EC is slightly outdated (in 2012 and 2013 we experienced a kind of “boom” in the commissioning of road investments related to EURO 2012) does not change the fact that we have a lot to catch up on to match the EU average – assesses Wojciech Kobosz. – This does not mean that we have no chance of catching up with Western Europe in terms of infrastructure. We are certainly capable of matching the European average within the next 10 years; I even believe we can achieve a better result. However, this will require maximum work and commitment.
